Separable fastener



May 1927' G. E. PRENTICE ET AL SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed June 12, 1926 Ma 7 0 1D n w w 6007;?6 ZZPTevzLce Roert 0. L Qa/Z .9 @12 @MM &

, fastener elements.

Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES I I 1,626,873 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PRENTICE, 0E BERLIN, AND ROBERT C. LEGAT, OF NEW BRITAIN, CON- NECTICUT, ASSIGNOR-S TO G. E. IR'ENTICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SEPARABLE FASTENER.

' Application filed June 12, 1926. Serial No. 115,470.-

This invention pertains to separable fas-' tenets of that general class of which the patent to Judson, No. 504,038, August 29, 1893, discloses an early example. Fasteners of the type referred to are commonly employed for the closure of gaps or seams in flexible material, their application to shoe and overshoe flaps, pouches, bags of various kinds, garinent-placke-ts, and tent-fiaps being cited as specific and well-known examples. Such fatcners comprise in general opposed series of spaced fastener elements projecting from the opposite edges of the gap or opening to be closed, the fasteners of one series being staggered relatively to those of the other series andadapted to be.

engaged with and disengaged from those of the other series only when they are dispose-d at an angle to the line of strain. Usually such fasteners also comprise an actuating slider having means for accurately disposing the fastener elements at the proper angle relative to the line of strain to facilitate engagement or disengagement of the opposed elements.

In one common embodiment of this gen eral type of fastener, of which an instance is discloseddn the British patent to Kuhn- Moos, .LTU- 14,358, dated June 19, 1912, the fastener elements of each series are entirely independent of each other. In the l ltllll-lll005 construction the elements of both series are of substantially like shape,

each element of each series being provided with a socket and projecting lug adapted respectively to engage the lug and socket of adjacent elements of the other series. While this is a very desirable type of fastener, the provision of both socket and lug on each element necessarily limits these parts to Very small dimensions in'view of-the small size of'the fastener element as a whole. In accordance with-the present invention we provide the fastener elements of one series with sockets or eyes only and the elements of the other series with corresponding pins or hooks, thus permitting the provision of engaging parts of relatively large dimensions without unduly increasing the size of'the We are aware that fasteners of the hook and eye type are old and well known, butin accordance with our present invention we provide cooperable fastener elements of sim plilied and improved construction adapted to furnish adequate resistance to separation, which are capable of engaging and disengaging smoothly and accurately, which are rugged and durable, which present smooth outer faces, and which add but little to the.

stringers to which the several fastener ele-' ments are connected Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the hook elements prior to application to the tape or stringer;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the hook element applied to the edge of the tape or stringer, the latter being in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the hook element;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the outer or front end of the hookelemcnt, viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 2;

Fig, 6 is a plan view of the eye element before application to the tape or stringer;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the eye element attached to the tape or stringer, the latter being in transverse section;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the eye elemerit; and

Fig. 9 is an elevation from the inner or right-hand side of the eye elementl Referring to the drawings. the numerals 1 and 2 designate tapes or stringers to which the opposed series of fastener elements respectively are connected. Vhile it is usual to furnish fasteners of this kind to the trade in the form-of a complete structure comprising tapes or stringers such as 1 and 2 upon which the series of fastener elements are mounted, itis to be understood that so far as its broader aspects are concerned the present invention is not necessarily limited to'the inclusion of these tapemembers since it is conceivable that the fastener elements might be applied directly to the edges of the material in which the gap occurs, and when in the appended claims the term stringer or tape is employed it is to be understood as broadly comprehending any flexible element forming in effect one edge of the gap to be closed. However, as just cited, it is Lil til)

usual for convenience to mount the fastener elements upon narrow fabric strips or tapes, Commonly known to the trade as stringers, and to secure these tapes or stringers by sewing or otherwise to the material at the ed es of the gap to be closed.

Treferably. though not necessarily, the opposed edges of the stringers 1 and 2 are thickened or beaded as indicated at 3. This may be accomplished as here shown by weaving in or otherwise introducing a thick warp thread at the edge of the material to form a thickened selvage, or by providing a folded hem at the edge or in any other suitable manner. l/Vhile such thickened or beaded edge is desirable, since it provides a secure anchorage for the fastener elements, it is conceivable that it may be dispensed with without sacrificing the utility of the device as a whole.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, the hook element 1 comprises a body portion of substantially truncated, triangular shape prior to application to the stringer, such portion having the front or outer edge 5, the rear or inner edge 6, the side faces 7 and -8 and the faces 9 and 10 which may be referred to for convenience as the top and bottom faces respectively. This reference to the faces 9 and 10 as the top and bottom faces is not intended as a limiting expression, since it is immaterial which of these faces is uppermost in use.

This hook element is thus in the nature of a block and may conveniently be stamped from sheet material of the proper thickness. The body portion of this block is provided with a recess 11 bifurcating the rear edge 6, such recess being adapted to receive the thickened edge 3 of the stringer 2. The hook element is secured to the stringer by pressing the sidewalls 7 and 8 inwardly toward each other while the stringer is seated "in the recess so that the inner surfaces of the recess are brought into clamping engagement with the thickened edge of the stringer.

When properly secured to the stringer the side walls 7 and 8 of the block become substantially parallel as indicated in Fig. 3, so that the contour of the block is generally rectangular.

A 'hook projection or tongue 12 juts out from the forward or outer face of the hook block. This projection or tongue 12 is offset from the plane of the face of the block so. as to provide a clearance space 13 above the projection. The projection extends below the plane of the surface 10 of the block to provide the hook element or pin 1 1 whose inner surface is substantially at right angles to the face 10. As shown in Fig. 5 the projection 12 is narrow as compared with the width of the face 5 of the block teasers and preferably the downwardly projecting portion 14 of the hook is of rectangular cross-section, although in the broader aspects of the invention this hook may be of such other cross-section as may be desired.

While, as above'stated, the hook block when applied to the stringer is of generally rectangular contour, we prefer to shape the block initially so that the rear corners 15 and 16 form acute angles, thus providing spaced surfaces for engagement with the walls of the guide channels in the actuating slider S.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 9, the eye element 4 also consists of a block preferably stamped from material of the same thickness as the body of the hook element and having the parallel upper and lower surfaces 17 and 18. The body portion of this block is provided with a recess 19 in its rear or inner end adapted to receive the thickened edge of the stringer 1. Preferably the outer faces 20 and 21 of the block, as originally formed, diverge rearwardly as shown in Fig. 6, but when pressure is applied to clamp the block onto the edge of the stringer, these faces 20 and 21 become substantially parallel so that the block assumes a generally rectangular contour.

Preferably the front or outer face 22 of this block is rounded or convex and the forward end of the block is provided with the opening 23 extending completely through it from the face 17 to the face 18. This opening is preferably of a contour corresponding to the transverse section of the hook member 14 and is adapted to receive such a hook member.

The hook elements 1- are secured in properly spaced relation upon the edge of the stringer and the eye elements Pare likewise arranged in similarly spaced relation upon the edge of the stringer 1, the elements of one series being staggered with relation to those of the other.

When the slider S is moved upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1, it causes the hook and eye elements of the opposed series to approach each other in proper position for intercugagement, and when the hooks enter the eye openings 23 they provide a positive locking means which prevents separation of the stringers. The provision of the clearance space 13 above the downwardly projecting hook member 14 facilitates the approach of the eye elements as they are brought into engagement with the hook members so that the parts work smoothly and without difficulty.

The integral construction of the hook cicnients including the attaching parts and the hook proper, results in a strong and cheap construction. Likewise the eye member is easy to construct and since the opening 2 t extends through the entire thickness of this eye member the hook pro ection 11 may be as long as desired, and may thus obtain a positive and reliable grip upon the eye element. j

The hook-and-eye elements, thus provided, have their least dimensions in the direction of the length of the stringers. but have a relatively great thickness of metal between their stringer receiving recess and their lateral side walls as compared with the usual fastener elements formed from thin metal tubing as shown. for example. in the patent to Judson. No. 788.317. April 2.), 1905. The dimensitn'is of the fastener elements in the direction of the series of elements may thus be greatly reduced as con\ pared with elements formed from thin tubing. since the thick side 'alls provide the necessary stitl'ness andrigidity to anchor the fastener elements permanently to the stringer. This reduction in longitudinal dimensions of the fastener elements is highly advantageous since it permits a much greater number of elements to be applied to a given length of stringer. thus increasing the flexibility of the fastener and providing a closer and more nearly continuous union of the up posed stringers. while the greater number of smaller fastener elements provides ample resistance to sepaartion of stringers and. at the same time, minimizes danger of injury to fabrics or to the fasteners themselves from the use of excessively long and exposed hooks.

Furthernnn'e, while the hook and eye elements are strong and durable, they do not unduly increase the thickness of the. edge of the fabric since the outer faces of the hook and eye elements are substantially flat when properly applied to the fabric. The fas- 'tener presents a very neat and attractive appearance and has no outstanding projections such as might interfere with the com fort of the wearer of an article provided with such fastener or which might catch in other garments or material and thus cause damage. 1

"We claim: a

1. A fastener of the class described comprising opposed series of hook and eye elements, all of the elements of both series con-. sisting of flat blocks of substantially the .same width and thickness and of generally rectangular contour, the blocks of each series being connected to a flexible stringer and projecting outwardly beyond theedge of their respective stringers. the least dimension of each block being longitudinally of the stringer, ahook jutting from the outer end of each block of one series. said book being narrow as compared with the width of its,block and having a clearance between it and the plane of one face of the block. and theblocks of the other series each having an aperture for the reception of one of said hooks, each aperture in plan view having a contour substantially like the horizontal cross-sectional contour of the corresponding hook.

2. A fastener of the class described-comprising opposed series of hook and eye elements. the elements of both series consisting of substantially flat blocks of substantially the same thickness and of generally rectangular contour, each having attaching means at its inner end, the hook blocks hav ing narrow hooks jutting out from their outer end faces, each hook being disposed centrally of the width of its block and projecting in the direction of the series beyond one face of the block and the eye blocks each having an aperture for receiving the hook of one of the hook elements, the outer wall of said aperture being substantially flat and plane, the hook having a substantially fiat surface engageable with said wall of the aperture.

3. A fastener of the class described comprising. opposed series of hook and eye elements. the elements of both series consisting of flat blocks, narrower in the direction of the series than at right angles thereto, the hook blocks having integral ho'ok members of polygonal section .jutting out from their outer ends and the eye blocks having sockets of polygonal section corresponding to the hook members.

l. A fastener of the class described comprising opposed series of hook and eye ele ments. the elements of both series consisting of substantially flat blocks having attaching members at their inner ends, the blocks be ing thinner in the direction of the series than at rightangles thereto, the eye members having rectangular sockets in their outer portions and the hook elements having hooks jutting out from their outer ends, said hooks being of rectangular section and adapted to fit in the sockets of the opposed eye elements.

5. A. fastener of the class described comprising opposed series of hook and eye clcments. each eye element consisting of a flat block having an aperture extending through its entire thickness, and each hook element consisting of a flat block having a hook member jutting out from one end said hook member projecting beyond the plane of one face of the block and having a clearance space between it and the plane of the opposite face of the block. said hook member havmg an eye engaging surface substantially perpendicular to the plane of the adjacent face of its block.

6. A fastener of the class described comprising opposed series of hook and eye elements. each hook element consisting of a fiat block having a narrow integral pro jcction jutting from its outer end face, said projection extending down beyond the plane of the lower face of the block to form a iii ltlll ten hook member, and each eye element consist- ,ing of a flat block having an opening in one end extending through its entire thickness and adapted to receive the corresponding hook i'neniber, the eye engaging surtaee of the hook being subs.:mt1ally perpendicular to the plane of the lower face of its block.

7. A fastener of the class described eo1n-v prising opposed series of hook and eye elements, each hook element consisting of a flat block having an integral substantially rectangular projection jutting from one end emme of the block, the block lieing of least thickness in the direction of the series, the'entire projection being oli'set downwardly from the plane of the upper taco ot' the block and projecting downwardly beyond the plane of the lower face of the block to form a hook member.

Signed by us at Berlin, Connecticut, this 20 hrenty-eiglrth day of May, 1926.

GEORGE E. PRENTICE. ROBERT C. LEGAT. 

